You may have heard your logistics partner, truck broker say that providing more notice days or shipping lead time could help lower costs. But how? To put it simply, the more time a third-party logistics provider (3PL) has to book a shipment, the more leverage they have to: Negotiate freight rates Find savings or efficiency […]
Read MoreTopic: Data and Technology
Latest Technologies in the Shipping Industry: Autonomous Trucks, API, Uber, and Drones
It’s an exciting time for technology in transportation. The problem is that sometimes many of the most interesting ideas aren’t necessarily the ones that drive immediate change. This is not to argue that new logistics technology in any form is not a great thing – it is. The point is to have more realistic expectations […]
Read MoreTrucking Rates 2017: Q2 Update
Everyone predicted a rise in freight rates for 2017 (including Zipline). But the spike has yet to hit. So, where do market pressures and transportation pricing currently stand? Transportation Impacts from 2017 Produce Season Produce season impacts all shippers, regardless of whether they are in the market for fresh fruits and vegetables. When crops are […]
Read MoreHow Shippers Can Make Freight More Appealing
Some freight lanes are more difficult than others when booking carriers. For example, an individual in charge of transportation might find it difficult to find a willing driver. Multiple phone calls and vetting could still result in no pickup or delivery. Even if a driver is secured, it could be at a very high cost […]
Read MoreThe Truth About API vs. EDI in Transportation
Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) are often revered as one of the great innovations in logistics today – almost on par with delivery drones and self-driving trucks. This perspective is centered on the idea that Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is dead, with APIs being the heir apparent as the de facto standard for how data will […]
Read More